We investigated the role of neutrophilic cells (neutrophils) in inflammatory angiogenesis and explored the possible mechanisms involved. Corneal angiogenesis was induced in vivo with a 75% silver nitrate applicator. Depletion of neutrophils was accomplished by the intraperitoneal administration of RB6-8C5, a neutrophil-depleting antibody. Angiogenesis, neutrophil infiltration, and the localization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated by biomicroscopic observations, histology, and immunohistochemistry in control and RB6-8C5 treatment groups. Protein levels of VEGF, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the cornea were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An in vitro model of neutrophil activation was also used to examine the ability of neutrophils to produce and release VEGF, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-2. At day 1 after injury, neutrophil infiltration in the cornea was highest, and VEGF was expressed in the infiltrating neutrophils. The enhanced protein levels of VEGF, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-2 correlated with the degree of neutrophil infiltration. Neutrophil depletion significantly inhibited corneal angiogenesis and reduced the protein levels of VEGF, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-2 in the cornea. Upon stimulation, isolated neutrophils released VEGF from preformed stores and MIP-1alpha and MIP-2 by de novo synthesis. Neutrophil depletion thus significantly impaired inflammatory angiogenesis, identifying neutrophils as an important player in inflammatory angiogenesis. Neutrophils may exercise their angiogenic function by releasing proangiogenic factors such as VEGF. Intervention measures targeting neutrophils may therefore help to deal with abnormal angiogenesis involved in chronic inflammatory diseases.

Defatted microalgal biomass derived from biorefinery can be potential feed ingredients for carnivorous fish. The present study investigated the growth, feed intake:gain and health parameters in Atlantic salmon fed for 84 days with defatted Nannochloropsis oceania as a fishmeal replacer. Fish fed feeds containing the algal biomass (at 10 and 20% inclusion, alga groups) were compared with groups that consumed alga-devoid feeds (control group). The fish that received 20% alga tended to have reduced weight gain and specific growth rate. Condition factor, feed conversion ratio and feed intake of this fish group were significantly different when compared with the control group. Hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indices, whole body and fillet proximate composition were not affected by the dietary treatments. Digestibility of dry matter, protein, lipid, ash and energy, as well as retention of lipid and energy of the fish that received feed with 20% alga meal were also significantly different from those of the control group. Serum superoxide dismutase activity of the 10% alga-fed fish was significantly higher compared with the control fish. Although alga feeding did not cause any distal intestinal inflammation, the intestinal proteins that were altered upon feeding 20% algal meal might be pointing to systemic physiological disturbances. In conclusion, feeds with 20% alga had a negative effect on feed intake, FCR, lipid and energy retention and health of the fish. The defatted Nannochloropsis oceania can be used at modest inclusion levels, around 10%, without negative effects on the performance of Atlantic salmon.

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Microalgal biomass is a potential feed ingredient that can replace fishmeal and ensure sustainability standards in aquaculture. To understand the efficacy of the defatted biomass from the marine microalga, Desmodesmus sp. a 70-day feeding study was performed with Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts. Three groups of fish (av. wt. 167 g) were offered either a control feed (without the microalga) or the microalga-containing (10/20%) feeds. At the end of the feeding period, the growth indices (condition factor, specific growth rate) and survival of the microalga-fed fish were not significantly different from the respective values of the control fish, but the feed conversion ratios were inferior. The proximate composition of the whole body of salmon from the three groups did not vary significantly. Compared to the control fish, the 10% alga-fed fish had lower lipid content in their filet. The protein and lipid digestibility in the three feeds did not differ significantly, but the digestibility of energy in the 10% alga-feed was significantly lower than that of the control feed. Furthermore, comparison of the distal intestinal proteome of Atlantic salmon revealed that the expressions of Alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein-like (Ahsg), Myosin-11 isoform X1 (My11) and Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, mitochondrial-like (Dld) were altered by the microalgal feeding. Examination of the physiological status of the fish based on the serum antioxidant capacities did not reveal any alga-feed-related differences. Moreover, the expression of the selected immune and inflammatory marker genes and the micromorphological observations did not indicate any aberration in the intestinal health of the microalga-fed fish. It is possible to include 20% of defatted Desmodesmus sp. in the feeds of Atlantic salmon.

The aim of the study was to investigate the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of defatted biomass derived from microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. and Desmodesmus sp. when fed to Atlantic salmon postsmolts in seawater. Two experiments, one employing cold-pelleted and the other employing extruded pellets, were carried out to determine the ADC of dry matter (DM), protein, ash and energy. The test feeds consisted of a fishmeal-based reference feed and the algal biomass, at a ratio of 70:30, and yttrium oxide as the inert marker. The ADC of DM and protein in fish fed microalgaeincorporated cold-pelleted feeds were significantly higher for Nannochloropsis sp. compared with Desmodesmus sp. The Nannochloropsis sp. inclusion in extruded feeds also led to higher ADCs of DM and energy compared with Desmodesmus sp. The extrusion processing significantly increased the ADC of ash in both defatted microalgae biomass, as well as ADCs of DM in Nannochloropsis and protein in Desmodesmus sp. In conclusion, the microalga Nannochloropsis sp. was more digestible than Desmodesmus sp., and extrusion processing can be used as a means to improve digestibility of certain nutrients.

In this study, we first described the complete mitochondrial genome for the red crab (Charybdis feriata), elucidated its phylogenetic relationship among 20 species within Decapoda, and estimated the population genetic diversity. The mitochondrial genome was 15,660 bp in size and encoded 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The gene arrangement of the mitochondrial genome was the same as that of its sister species, C. japonica. Phylogenomic analysis suggested that genus Charybdis should be classified into subfamily Portuninae but not into subfamily Thalamitinae. Moreover, a total of 33 haplotypes of complete cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene were defined in 70 individuals of C. feriata derived from three localities. Haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity values among three localities indicated a high level of genetic diversity in C. feriata. AMOVA analysis suggested a low level of genetic differentiation among the three localities (FST = 0.0023, P > 0.05). Neutrality tests and mismatch analysis revealed that C. feriata might have undergone a population expansion event that possibly occurred in the last 61,498 to 43,814 years. This study should be helpful to better understand the evolutionary status, and population genetic diversity of C. feriata and related species.

Human beings have experienced a serious public health event as the new pneumonia , caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus has killed more than 3000 people in China, most of them elderly or people with underlying chronic diseases or immunosuppressed states. Rapid assessment and early warning are essential for outbreak analysis in response to serious public health events. This paper reviews the current model analysis methods and conclusions from both micro and macro perspectives. The establishment of a comprehensive assessment model, and the use of model analysis prediction, is very efficient for the early warning of infectious diseases. This would significantly improve global surveillance capacity, particularly in developing regions, and improve basic training in infectious diseases and molecular epidemiology.

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